Load-engaging device



April 28, 1931. F c 1,802,888

LOAD ENGAGING DEVICE Filed Dec.. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY$April 28, 1931. B. F. FITCH 1,802,883

1.01m ENGAGING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORN EYS April 28, 1931. FITCH 1,802,888

LOAD ENGAGING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 55 INVENTORATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1931 Unites stares PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN F.FITCH, OF GREENVICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR TERMINALS COMPANY,OF VJILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE roen nneasrne nnvronApplication filed Da mar 2c, 1228. Serial No. 328,519.

This invention relates to apparatus for connecting a load to aload-lifting mechanism, and is particularly adapted for use inconnection with the handling of freight .7 in demountable automobilebodies, or containers, wherein the load is engaged at four points froman overhead hoisting mechanism. In Letters Patent of the United States#1,485,972 issued to me, March 4-, 1924, I have shown a load liftingmechanism as comprising an articulated frame, which is suspended by fourcables from an overhead crane and which carries four load engagingmembers in vertical alignment with the cables. Such patent also showsthe container as having sockets in which the load engaging hooks mayextend to effect contact with the load. After a container has beendeposited upon a support the frame suspended by the cables is operatedto move the load engaging members, usually hooks, outwardly and awayfrom the side of the container. Where the distance between the containertop and the overhead crane trackway is relatively large, as for example,where one container is intended to be transported by the crane overother containers,

then the mechanism shown in my patent is satisfactory. V

In locations where the headroom is restricted, however, a difficultyarises of maintaining the cables in the guide sheaves when the loadengaging members are swung outwardly. This is obvious when it isconsidered that the sheaves on the crane are spaced apart about eightfeet, while the hooks must be moved laterally until the ends of thecables are spaced apart about nine feet. Under such conditions, thecables tend to leave thesheave grooves. j

The object of the present invention is to maintain the advantagesinherent in the use of laterally movable load engaging members and atthe same time to avoid cable inclination with reference to the guidesheaves when it is necessary to shift the load engaging members to theproper position. Another object of my invention is to attain the desiredresult with an apparatus which is simple in construction, and which maybe readily actuated byan operator from a convenient location.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container with a loadengaging device suspended thereabove and embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a vertical section through the device taken on a plane indicated bythe line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken through the deviceshown in Fig. 1 with the load engaging members in contact withthecontainer; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detailed view through theapparatus adjacent the load engaging member; Fig. 5 is an end view of asupporting element removed from the container and showing one of theload engaging elements in the form of a hook in contact therewith; Fig.6 is a section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an end view ofa modified form of device embodying my invention; Fig. 8 is a transversesection through another modified form; Fig. 9 is a plan view of ahoistillustrating the apparatus shown in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is asection taken through one of the hooks in the line l010 in Fig. 6.

My invention, as heretofore indicated, is particularly adapted for usein connection with the raising and lowering of containers,

in the form of demountable automobile;

bodies, such as is indicated-at 10 in Fig. 1. Such container hasprovision for engage: ment at four points by an overhead hoistingmechanism, and in the form illustrated, the container hassockets 11 nearthe eaves which carry bars 12-, and beneath which load engaging hooks 13may extend. The hooks are carried by a rigid frame having side bars 15,and end bars 16, and are spaced upon the side bars to register with thesockets when the frame is lowered. Cables 17 depend from suitablehoisting apparatus and are attached to the side bars, as by aperturedangle plates 20, shown in Fig. 4.

To transmit lifting stresses from the cables directly to the hooks, Ihave shown each hook as being rigidly mounted upon a shaft 21 whichextends along the side bars and is journalled in bearing blocks 22 oneach side of the hooks. Suitable securing members 23 extend through theplates 20, side bar 15, bearing blocks 22 and plate 19 to complete theassembly. By means of this arrangement, the hooks are vertically alignedwith the cables, and bending moments are not placed upon the frame.Torsional springs 25 may each have one end fastened as at 26 to theshaft 21 and the other end fastened as at 27 to the side bar, and thusfunction to hold the'shafts and therefore the hooks in normal couplingor load engaging position.

To move the hooks outwardly from the frame, so as to effectdisengagement with the container, each shaft may have one end thereofprojecting beyond the 'end of the frame andmay have an arm 30 rigidlyattached thereto. The free end of the arm on one side'is pivotallyconnected to a cross link 31, while that on the other side is pivotallyconnected to a link 82. Links 31 and 32 are then pivotally connected toan operating lever 33 which may be pivoted at 34 to a bracket 35, whichis attached to and extends downwardly from one of the end bars 16. Thelever 33 is provided with a handle and functions when moved in onedirection to swing the hooks outwardly where they can be held until theframe is raised a suflicient distance for enabling the hooks to clearthe container. The plate 19, as shown in Fig. 10 has a U-shaped recess18 in which the associated hook swings. The back wall 9 of each recess,thus serves as a stop to limit inward movement of the hooks under theaction of springs 25.

This mechanism is effective to produce simultaneous movement of allhooks, and since the frame extends beyond the ends of the container, anoperator may satisfactorily actuate the hooks from one end of thecontainer. During such movement, the cables 17 remain in the normalvertical position. Hence, this mechanism will operate satisfactorilyeven though the top of the container is in close proximity to the crane.V

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modified form of my invention wherein the hooksupporting shafts 21a have links 300; rigidly affixed thereto adjacentone end of theframe. The free ends of these links are urged inwardly bya spring 40 which extends betweenthe links. Links 42 are hinged togetherat 43 and are pivotally connected to the links 30a at the free endsthereof. A bar 44 depends from the hinge 43 and is provided with ahandle 45 by means of which the bar may be drawn downwardly to move thehooks outwardly at the desired time.

Another modification of my invention is shown in Fig. 8 wherein thehooks 135 are counterweighted as at so as normally to be urged inwardly.The hooks may be swung outwardly by means of cables 51 which extenddiagonally inwardly and upwardly from the respectivehooks to the centerof the frame where they are connected to a common cable 52, which maypass over sheaves 53 and 54 adjacent the center of the hoist, and maythen pass outwardly and downwardly over a sheave 55 adjacent the end ofthe frame. With this arrangement the operator may readily actuate thehooks by drawing downwardly on the free end of the cable 52 and holdingit in such position until the hooks have cleared theeaves of thecontainer.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a suitable hoisting mechanism for raising thecables 17 as a unit. I11 such figure, 46 indicates a screw shaft, 56 atraveling nut and 57 guide bars for the nut. The cables 17 pass upwardlyfrom their free ends over suitable guiding sheaves 58, 59 and 60, andare finally anchored to the nut 56. An electric motor 61 is suitablygeared to the screw shaft. Thus, rotation of this shaft operates toraise or lower simultaneously all four of the load engaging cables.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that by'means of thisinvention, load engaging hooks may be automatically brought into contactwith a load as the frame is lowered. Thereafter, as the container' israised, the lifting stresses are transmitted directly from the cablesthrough the hooks to the engaging bars. When disengagement is desiredthe operator may easily actuate the necessary lever, or other manuallyoperable member, to move the hooks out of the container. sockets and hemay conveniently hold the hooks out of engagement until the frame hasbeen raised a sufiicient height to clear the container eaves. Upon:release of the operating member, the hooks automatically return to thenormal coupling, or load engaging position.

It may be noted that the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, though covered byclaims hereof, forms the subject matter of my divisional application No.445,668 filed April 19th,.1930, and is there more specifically claimed.

:I claim: 7

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framehaving side bars and end bars, rock shafts carried by the side bars,loadengaging members mounted on the rock shafts, yieldable meansoperating upon the rock shafts to move the members inwardly of the frameand manually operable means for opposing the yieldable means to move themembers outwardly with relation to the frame.

2. In a device of the character described, thecombination with'a framehaving side bars and end bars, load engaging members pivotally mountedupon the side bars, means associated with the members for normallyurging them inwardly toward the frame, there being manually operablemeans for moving the members outwardly with reference to the frame.

3. The combination of an open rectangular suspensible frame adapted tobe lowered about the crowned roof of a demountable automobile body,hooks carried by the sides of said frame and adapted to engagebodysupporting devices located at the eaves of said body, and manuallyoperable means for swinging said hooks, said manually operable meansbeing so located that it may be beyond the end of an automobile bodycoacting with said hooks.

at. The combination of a rectangular frame having provision for theconnection therewith of supporting cables at the four corners of arectangle, swinging devices car ried by the sides of said frame andadapted to engage a demountable automobile body, and manually operablemeans for swinging said devices, said manually operable means being solocated that it may be beyond the end of an automobile body coactingwith said devices.

5. The combination of a rectangular frame having provision for theconnection therewith of supporting cables, four swinging devices carriedby the sides of said frame and adapted to engage a demountableautomobile body, and a single manually operable cable divided andconnected with said devices, said cable being so located that it may bebeyond the end of an automobile body coacting with said hooks.

6. The combination of a rectangular frame suspended by four cablesconnected therewith at the four corners of a rectangle, a pair of rockshafts carried by the sides of said frame, rock arms on said shaftslocated at one end thereof, a pair of links connected with therespective rock arms, manual means at the end of the frame for spreadingsaid links to rock the shafts, and hooks on the rock shafts.

7. The combination of a rectangular frame, a pair of rock shafts carriedby the sides of said frame, rock arms on said shafts, a pair of linksconnected together at their inner ends and connected at their outer endsto the respective rock arms, means depending from the mutual joint ofthe links for spreading said links to rock the shafts, a spring tendingto rock the shafts in the opposite direction, and hooks on the rockshafts.

8. The combination of a four-sided rigid frame adapted to be suspendedfrom a crane, four independently movable load-engaging hooks pivotallycarried by the frame and counterweighted so that they tend to swingabout their pivotal connections into position to engage a load, andmanually operable means for moving the hooks simultaneously out of loadengaging position.

. 9. In a device of the character described, the combination with aframe having side bars and end bars, two load engaging members pivotallymounted on each of the side bars, there being means for urging themembers inwardly to engage opposite sides of a body at four points, andflexible manually operable means for moving the members outwardly.

10. The combination of a four-sided rigid frame adapted to be suspendedfrom a crane, four load engaging hooks pivotally carried by the frameand counterweighted so that they tend to swing about their pivotalconnections into position to engage a load, cables connected to therespective hooks, and means for operating said cables simultaneously toswing the hooks in opposition to their counterweights.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. FITCH

